claþrom

claþrom is a language i made to create a unique aesþetic· explore symmetrical voice & optional polypersonal agreement· & to translate poetry

contents

• phonology & orþography
• pronouns
• morphosyntax
• case
• working lexicon
• example sentences

phonology & orþography

below are þe phonemes of claþrom

consonants

	labial	dental	alveolar	dorsal/glottal
nasal	m	n
stop	b	k
fricative	w	θ	s	h
approximant			l	j
trill		r

vowels

	front	back
close	ɪ	o
open	ɛ	ɑ
diphthongs	ɑɛ ɛo oɛ

phonotactics

þe allowable onsets for a word include:

• any single consonant
• any stop followed by /l/
• þe fricative /θ/ or /h/ followed by /l/
• (nouns in þe direct case) a homorganic nasal followed by one of þe above permissible onsets

allowable nuclei are any vowel or diphthong· þe allowable codas are any nasal or fricative·

stress is on þe first syllable of þe lexical root

phonological processes

• /nk/ → [ŋg]
• /h/ → [x] at þe end of a word
• /r/ → [ʀ] (uvular trill) after /n/
• /kl/ & /hl/ → [tɬ] & [ɬˑ] respectively
• /θ/ & /s/ → [ð] & [z] respectively when between a vowel & anoþer vowel or a liquid (/l/ or /r/)
• word-initial /nl/ → [nd]
• vowels lengþen in open stressed syllables
• /b/ is devoiced → [p] after a voiceless fricative (/θ/ or /s/ or /h/

orþography

þe following consonant phonemes (//) are written (❬❭) þusly

• /k/ ❬c❭
• /θ/ ❬þ❭
• /j/ ❬y❭

all oþer consonants are written as in IPA· þe vowel phonemes are written þusly

• /ɪ/ ❬i❭
• /o/ ❬o❭
• /ε/ ❬e❭
• /ɑ/ ❬a❭

pronouns

inflexional pronouns are suffixed onto þe verb for direct &· optionally· indirect arguments· using þe tense-mood suffix as an epenþetic vowel between þem if needed· þe first person inflexional forms have an inclusive (including þe second person) & exclusive (not including þe second person) version·

construct pronouns are used as suffixes to nouns to indicate possession· þe vowel i is used for epenþesis after a consonant· a consonant y is inserted after a vowel in þe þird person construct

independent forms are used after prepositions & for pronouns not inflected on þe verb (which þerefore need a case marker)

þe use of one pronominal form for boþ speech participants· first & second person· is documented in languages wiþ merged-participant pronominal systems such as ho-chunk/hoocąk· þough in þose languages þe verb also marks for first or second person along wiþ þe pronoun· claþrom· in contrast· relies on context when þese forms are used·

morphosyntax

claþrom has symmetrical alignment· meaning it will highlight a particular argument (noun wiþ a particular role in þe action of þe verb) by marking þe kind of agreement onto þe verb· symmetrical voice systems are most well known in austronesian languages such as tagalog·

in claþrom· þis is done by prefixing þe focus onto þe verb· þe focus is eiþer þe argument in þe direct case (preceded by þe an preposition) or þe first inflexional pronoun attached to þe verb (or boþ)·

• no prefix · agent of þe verb or source is þe focus
• o’- · patient of þe verb or þeme is þe focus
• i’- · recipient or experiencer is þe focus
• e’- · instrument or manner is þe focus
• a’- · location or time is þe focus

an explicit direct argument is introduced wiþ an while an indirect argument (a core but non-focus argument) is introduced wiþ me & any oþer non-focus core argument is introduced wiþ os· for furþer explanation see þ case section below

þe same sentence can be expressed a myriad of ways depending on what þe focus is·

“i summon him” (focus underlined)

• mori a nni me ae · summon-NPST DIR=1/2 INDIR 3
• moriþis · summon-NPST-1EX-3

“i summon him” (focus underlined)

• o’mori an ae me ni · PATIENT-summon-NPST DIR 3 INDIR 1/2
• o’morisiþ · PATIENT-summon-NPST-3-1EX

þe overall word order is

VERB DIRECT INDIRECT OBLIQUE (other)

& heads are followed by þeir modifiers· adverbs follow verbs & adjectives· while adjectives follow nouns·

case

case is marked on nouns wiþ direct marker an· indirect marker me· oblique marker os· & oþer prepositions·

however· in many situations· þe case marker will fuse wiþ þe following word· causing consonant mutations· below is a chart of consonant mutations· which is modeled after consononant mutation charts for sindarin as well as þe insular celtic languages·

þe leftmost column defines þe beginning of þe noun which follows þe case marker or preposition (capital V stands for any vowel)

working lexicon

example sentences

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